2003 News

Dec. 30

Holiday / New Years - Gathering of Harmony and Friendship...

the Cheshiremen and the American Legion Band, and their families, celebrate!

(forthcoming)

Holiday Concert

The Cheshiremen once again resurrected their custom version of the famous Scrooge classic “What the Dickens?” in a double feature holiday concert.

The Keene American Legion Band (ranked #2 nationally) opened the first half of the holiday concert with a selection of band and holiday favorites.  In the middle of the bands’ performance, everyone took a break, with the Cheshiremen surrounding the audience, to enjoy a holiday sing-along.

The Band ended their portion of the show with a beautiful medley of winter favorites.    Then, with a cast of notable characters from the Keene community as well as from the chorus, Scrooge took to the stage to review his days of Christmas’ past, present and future, ghosts aglow, to remember and change his ways… through singing!

The performance was the first for the two groups in Keene High School’s new auditorium - a wonderful venue and facility – and nearly packed!  Great show!

Many thanks to the school and the community for their support!   Happy New Year!

Friday

Sept. 19

"We just LOVE the Cheshiremen" says the woman popping away at the popcorn kettle. "We missed you last year..."

And so goes another wonderful performance for the crowds in the New Hampshire Building at the Big-E (Eastern States Exposition) in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

At the request of the NH Department of Agriculture and NH Bureau of Tourism, the Keene Cheshiremen again adorned "New Hampshire Day" at the Big-E with barbershop harmony, both by the chorus and a quick-draw quartet.  Two performances kept us busy - one at 10 in the morning at the opening moo and the second at 1 pm.

Hurricane Isabel did not phase us or the audience, though we were a bit damp as we arrived...  However, the day turned out just swell and we again thank our guys for making the drive and braving the elements.

Many thanks to the NH Dept. of Agriculture for the opportunity.  We had fun, too!

End Note: "Hello" to "Sweet Mary Lou" at the NH Information desk.  Thanks for volunteering!

Saturday

September 13

A wonderful midday performance for the folks attending the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Health Fair.  There seemed to be no shortage of good, clean, healthy fun this year and we enjoyed singing to the staff and friends of BMH.

Of course, some Doc tried to lasso all of our men into the urology booth for health screening ... and to give us some "healthy" advice about.... (well, you can figure that out for yourself).   Ah, those doctors... always thinking ahead for the good of living life to the fullest.

Many thanks to the women in the Geriatric booth, as well, for the advice on "Getting Old Graciously".  We appreciate your concerns.

Wendy... Thank you again for a wonderful venue - and - for inviting us again!  It was a great audience this year and we appreciate the opportunity to offer entertainment and barbershop harmony to the citizens of Brattleboro!

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

Photos courtesy of Diane & Wendy - Thanks!

“For the Love of Music” was the event title.  The Keene Cheshiremen chorus and chapter quartet Junction 1-3-5 performed an afternoon of choral music in collaboration with the Hillsboro-Deering (NH) High School Music Department.

Chorus director Jim Flanders (also an alumnus) and Junction 1-3-5 dedicated an entire Friday last spring to music education in the barbershop style.   Friday rehearsals with the high school men and women culminated in a Saturday performance by the Cheshiremen, the High School singers, a local adult chorus group and a memorable and dramatic finale of the combined Cheshiremen chorus, Junction 1-3-5 quartet and the High School singers.

Powerful, warm friendships and choral music connections were made and the Cheshiremen promise to make this an annual event.